Having checked out what’s on offer from the Double Gameweek 34 defences, we shift our attentions to the business end of the pitch in our quest for goals and assist potential.
After limping out of Man United’s Europa League clash with Anderlecht last night due to a worrying looking knee injury, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is expected to miss the upcoming pair of trips to Burnley and Man City.
The exodus is in full swing amid growing concerns over the Swede’s availability, with the 6.5-priced Marcus Rashford the likeliest to benefit from a central role.
A goal and assist against the Belgians last night maintained the fine form that has seen the youngster score in three of his last four outings across all competitions.
Yet the upcoming couple of hosts have been defensively solid in front of their own fans. Both sit amongst the top six sides for fewest goals conceded at home, with Burnley (14 against in 16) even more resilient than City (15 against in 15).
Two goals and an assist in his last four starts highlights the potential of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who also found the net last night. But four first-team outings in eight, allied with three unused sub appearances, make the 8.8-priced Armenian a risk too far. Without a goal or assist since Gameweek 19, Paul Pogba (8.2) will also remain out of contention for most.
Meanwhile, coming in at 5.6 and 6.3 respectively, Jesse Lingard (five successive starts), and Ander Herrera, with a goal and two assists in two, could be mid-priced punts. Over 45,000 have acquired the Spaniard after he registered a season-high 13 points in the home win over Chelsea.
Floundering six points adrift of safety, Middlesbrough must throw caution to the wind in their vital clashes with Bournemouth and Sunderland.
Certainly, their opponents’ defensive records offer a degree of encouragement – the Cherries have conceded at least two goals in seven of their last eight at home, while Sunderland have a single clean sheet on their travels all season.
The Teesside team may struggle to convince, though – a total of 26 goals scored is less than any other side in the top-flight.
Nonetheless, a change in manager seems to have boosted their prospects in the final third. More than 93,000 have snapped up Alvaro Negredo on the back of his two goals in five since Steve Agnew replaced Aitor Karanka at the helm.
Over that period, only four players have started every match for The Riverside outfit – Stewart Downing being one of them.
Hardly a fashionable pick, the veteran has played from start to finish in every match under Agnew and grabbed the assist for Negredo’s equaliser against the Gunners.
Elsewhere for Boro, Gaston Ramirez returned from injury on Monday night, though with five starts since Gameweek 21, his minutes may need to be managed.
Crystal Palace approach their testing Double Gameweek against Liverpool and Spurs in fine fettle, chalking up four wins and a draw in the last six.
Having seen off the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal over that run, Sam Allardyce’s side have the form to prevail despite a far from favourable pair of upcoming opponents.
Unlike United and Middlesbrough, the Eagles offer us viable in-form options both in midfield and up front.
On the flanks, both Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend have served up two goals and three assists over the previous six.
Number one for transfers in among FPL midfielders in the Gameweek, the Ivorian international has been subject to over 82,000 new owners and now boasts a 15% ownership, thanks to recent double-figure hauls against Chelsea and Arsenal. Townsend remains the differential, though, sitting in just 2% of sides by comparison.
With three goals and an assist in the last four, Christian Benteke has been key in steering Palace towards survival. Over his previous four matches, the Belgian is joint-top with Sergio Aguero for shots inside the box among forwards, firing 16 apiece. Indeed, over the season, Aguero is the only player to have produced more efforts inside the box than Benteke.
The Top Targets
Marcus Rashford – with Ibrahimovic expected to miss out, Rashford has earned over 120,000 new owners in the last 24 hours alone. While there still has to be slight concerns as to whether he’ll have his pitch time managed, given that he played 120 minutes last night, the youngster’s pace and eye for goal will surely be vital in a Gameweek that could see United overtake neighbours City in the race for fourth.
Wilfried Zaha – priced at a very kind 6.0, the Palace winger boasts the underlying numbers to justify his recent output. Over the last four Gameweeks, only Tottenham’s Son Heung-min has fired more shots inside the box from midfield.
Christian Benteke – the in-form forward ahead of Double Gameweek 34. Sitting in just 9% of FPL squads, the Belgian also offers the greatest security of starts among the Double Gameweek forwards – he’s played from start to finish in each of the last 12 league outings.
Alvaro Negredo – since Agnew’s appointment in Gameweek 29, Negredo has gone stride for stride with Benteke. Level with the Belgian for shots (19), efforts in the box (16) and attempts on target (seven), his contribution will be vital if Middlesbrough are somehow scramble to safety.
The Differentials
Andros Townsend –has bettered the more popular Zaha by 42 points to 37 over Palace’s last six outings, producing maximum bonus on three of those occasions. Townsend’s total of 15 chances created during that time is at least seven more than any team-mate, with his supply from out wide becoming increasingly crucial.
Jesse Lingard – with Juan Mata sidelined for the season, Lingard is another United asset whose minutes are on the up. A goal and two assists over the season clearly highlights the risk, yet his threat in the final third is on the up – only Ibrahimovic and Rashford have managed more attempts in their respective last four.
Stewart Downing – priced at just 4.9, the Middlesbrough winger has created at least twice the number of goal scoring chances than any team-mate since Steve Agnew was appointed to the hot seat.
Gaston Ramirez – coming in at 5.2, the Uruguayan could also benefit if he can remain injury-free for those two favourable fixtures. Ramirez has created more scoring chances than any team-mate this season and is second only to Negredo for shots on goal.
